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Thailand Studies
Spate of Attacks
For al Qaeda Ties

By

Ellen Nakashima The Washington Post

Updated Jan. 9, 2004 12:01 a.m. ET

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Thai officials are investigating whether a wave of coordinated bomb and arson attacks in Thailand's Muslim south is linked to al Qaeda's network in the region, the country's new national security adviser said Thursday.

Retired Gen. Kitti Rattanachaya said security officials believe the attacks, which have killed four soldiers and two police officers and torched 20 schools, were the work of local separatists possibly linked to regional militant networks such as al Qaeda affiliate Jemaah Islamiyah. In Indonesia,...